Travel Physical Therapist License Processing Timeframes by State

Below are the average license processing times for traveling physical therapists per state

Licensing boards continue to face staffing and workload challenges across the country. Our team has continued to see processing and response delays across all boards. We encourage all candidates to apply for licensure as soon as possible and allow extra time for processing.

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Please select a state/states
Click above to see the average license processing timeframes for physical therapists.
Alabama
Timeframe:

3-5 weeks

Compact:

no

Application:

Alabama PT Form

Alaska
Timeframe:

4-6 weeks

Compact:

no

Application:

Alaska PT Form

Arizona
Timeframe:

Based on Board Meeting

Application:

Arizona PT Form

Arkansas
Timeframe:

1 week

Compact:

no

Application:

Arkansas PT Form

California
Timeframe:

5-7 weeks with LiveScan; 8-10 weeks with fingerprint cards

Compact:

no

Application:

California PT Form

Notes:

LiveScan or fingerprint cards required.

Colorado
Timeframe:

4-6 weeks

Compact:

yes

Application:

Colorado PT Form

Connecticut
Timeframe:

2-3 weeks

Compact:

no

Application:

Connecticut PT Form

Delaware
Timeframe:

4-8 weeks

Compact:

no

Application:

Delaware PT Form

Florida
Timeframe:

2-3 weeks

Compact:

no

Application:

Florida PT Form

Georgia
Timeframe:

5-7 weeks

Compact:

no

Application:

Georgia PT Form

Hawaii
Timeframe:

4-5 weeks

Compact:

no

Application:

Hawaii PT Form

Idaho
Timeframe:

3-4 weeks

Compact:

no

Application:

Idaho PT Form

Illinois
Timeframe:

6-8 weeks

Compact:

no

Application:

Illinois PT Form

Indiana
Timeframe:

2-4 weeks

Compact:

no

Application:

Indiana PT Form

Iowa
Timeframe:

2-4 weeks

Compact:

yes

Application:

Iowa PT Form

Kansas
Timeframe:

2-3 weeks

Compact:

no

Application:

Kansas PT Form

Kentucky
Timeframe:

1-2 weeks

Compact:

yes

Application:

Kentucky PT Form

Notes:

HIV/AIDS education course required through state.

Louisiana
Timeframe:

1-2 weeks after board meeting

Compact:

yes

Application:

Louisiana PT Form

Notes:

Proof of 30 CEUs within past 2 years; interview with board required for licensing.

Maine
Timeframe:

2-3 weeks

Compact:

no

Application:

Maine PT Form

Notes:

Online application

Maryland
Timeframe:

1-2 weeks

Compact:

no

Application:

Maryland PT Form

Massachusetts
Timeframe:

5-6 weeks

Compact:

no

Application:

Massachusetts PT Form

Notes:

License processed through PCS in Tennessee.

Michigan
Timeframe:

6-8 weeks

Compact:

no

Application:

Michigan PT Form

Minnesota
Timeframe:

5 days (temp permit)

Compact:

no

Application:

Minnesota PT Form

Notes:

Online application; full license issued with board meeting.

Mississippi
Timeframe:

1-2 weeks

Compact:

yes

Application:

Mississippi PT Form

Notes:

Online application; fingerprint cards required.

Missouri
Timeframe:

6 weeks

Compact:

yes

Application:

Missouri PT Form

Montana
Timeframe:

2 weeks after board meeting

Compact:

no

Application:

Montana PT Form

Notes:

Online application

Nebraska
Timeframe:

1-2 weeks

Compact:

yes

Application:

Nebraska PT Form

Nevada
Timeframe:

3-4 weeks with LiveScan; 6-8 weeks with fingerprint cards

Compact:

no

Application:

Nevada PT Form

Notes:

LiveScan or fingerprint cards required.

New Hampshire
Timeframe:

Board review- 3rd Wednesday of each month

Compact:

yes

Notes:

Call 603-271-8389 to obtain an application. Must obtain criminal history reports from any state lived/worked in (done through state police).

New Jersey
Timeframe:

4-8 weeks

Compact:

no

Application:

New Jersey PT Form

Notes:

LiveScan or fingerprint cards required.

New Mexico
Timeframe:

1-3 weeks

Compact:

no

Application:

New Mexico PT Form

New York
Timeframe:

4-8 weeks

Compact:

no

Application:

New York PT Form

North Carolina
Timeframe:

2-3 weeks after board review

Compact:

yes

Application:

North Carolina PT Form

North Dakota
Timeframe:

1-2 weeks

Compact:

yes

Application:

North Dakota PT Form

Notes:

Online application

Ohio
Timeframe:

3-4 weeks with LiveScan; 3-4 months with fingerprint cards

Compact:

no

Application:

Ohio PT Form

Notes:

Online application

Oklahoma
Timeframe:

Board review (3 meetings per year)

Compact:

no

Application:

Oklahoma PT Form

Oregon
Timeframe:

Temp permit issued 2-3 days with one license verification.

Compact:

yes

Application:

Oregon PT Form

Notes:

1 hour pain management course required.

Pennsylvania
Timeframe:

2-3 weeks

Compact:

no

Application:

Pennsylvania PT Form

Notes:

Online application

Rhone Island
Timeframe:

4-6 weeks

Compact:

no

Application:

Rhode Island PT Form

South Carolina
Timeframe:

4 weeks

Compact:

no

Application:

South Carolina PT Form

Notes:

Online application

South Dakota
Timeframe:

Varies

Application:

South Dakota PT Form

Notes:

Online application or call board at 605-367-7781.

Tennessee
Timeframe:

3-6 weeks

Compact:

yes

Application:

Tennessee PT Form

Notes:

LiveScan or fingerprint cards required.

Texas
Timeframe:

1-2 weeks

Compact:

yes

Application:

Texas PT Form

Notes:

Online application

Utah
Timeframe:

2-4 weeks

Compact:

yes

Application:

Utah PT Form

Vermont
Timeframe:

1-2 weeks

Compact:

no

Application:

Vermont PT Form

Virginia
Timeframe:

1-2 weeks

Compact:

no

Application:

Virginia PT Form

Notes:

Online application

Washington
Timeframe:

Temp permit within 3-4 weeks

Compact:

no

Application:

Washington PT Form

Notes:

AIDS education and training requirement.

West Virginia
Timeframe:

1-2 Weeks

Application:

West Virginia OT Form

Wisconsin
Timeframe:

1-2 weeks

Compact:

no

Application:

Wisconsin PT Form

Wyoming
Timeframe:

3-4 weeks

Compact:

no

Application:

Wyoming PT Form

Notes:

Fingerprint cards required.

District of Columbia
Timeframe:

120 business days or less

Compact:

no

Application:

District of Columbia PT Form

Notes:

LiveScan or fingerprint cards required.

Please note that timeframes for verifications, transcripts, and background checks can affect the processing times for physical therapists, and each person’s situation may vary slightly. Please check with your recruiter to get more detailed information. Please note: time frames are subject to change!

Verifications: Most states require verifications of all professional PT licenses ever held, both current and expired. There is typically a form within the application package that you can use to submit your verification requests. You will need to copy this form and use one for each state in which you have ever been licensed. We recommend that you check with those state boards to find out the mailing address and fee for verifications.

Score Transfer: All states require you to request a transfer of your NPTE scores. The link to the request page on the FSBPT website can be found here. This request is an online process where you will submit your information and payment via the FSBPT website. Your score report will be automatically transferred to the board within 5 business days.

Transcripts: Some states require original transcripts delivered directly from your school. Please read through the application carefully to see if this situation applies. If transcripts are required, the application package may contain a request form you can use to submit to your school. Always check with your school to confirm where these requests are to be sent and find out if they charge a fee for this service. Important: State boards will not accept copies of transcripts that you might already have received. They must be originals sent directly from the school.

CEUs: Some states require the completion of CEUs for licensure. Please read through the application carefully to see what CEUs, if any, are required for initial licensure.

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